Last update - 00:00 06/05/2007
City heavily bombed in Lebanon war celebrates soccer triumph
By Noam Amir, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Only half a year ago residents of the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, located only a few kilometers from the Lebanon border, had either fled or were taking shelter in bomb shelters as the war between Israel and Hezbollah raged on.
On Saturday, however, memories of the war seemed worlds away as the city celebrated the promotion of its local soccer team to Israel's top tier soccer competition for the first time in its history.
Hapoel Kiryat Shomna pummeled Bnei Lod 5-2 and secured the first place in the National League ahead of already promoted Bnei Sakhnin.
With three rounds of play remaining, Kiryat Shmona tops the table on 58 points ahead of Bnei Sakhnin on 57. Both teams have an unassailable lead on Hapoel Haifa in third place on 44 points.
While the scenes in the northern town were of unrestrained euphoria, coach Ran Ben Shimon chose to warn of the dangers ahead.
"The toughest part is still before us," cautioned Ben Shimon. "Now we have to find a way to survive in the Premier League."
Providence provided Kiryat Shmona with a full house for the historic moment as a blackout before the game shut down the TV screens of local residents and sent a 4,000 fans heading to the municipal stadium.
Fate also served up an easy opponent relegation struggler Bnei Lod was no match for Kiryat Shmona and Salah Hasarme netted a quick double on 11 and 13 minutes to put the result beyond doubt.
Iliya Yaborian stretched Kiryat Shmona's lead on 33 minutes. Ahmad Saba pulled a goal back on 43 minutes before Yaborian added his second on 50 minutes to make it 4-1. A minute later Petit Nimba made it 5-1. Saba narrowed the result to 5-2 with his second on 84 minutes.
The crowd could hardly wait for the final whistle and when it finally came, the fans burst on to the field and lifted Ben Shimon in the air.
"The feeling is incredible, even more so than winning the championship with Hapoel Haifa as a player," said Ben Shimon.